Don't believe the hype. Disney is not dangerous.
There have been three cast member deaths this year at the Walt Disney World Resort and all of them have attracted quite a bit of media attention. All of them have been rather strange and shocking to say the least. The first occurred when a young monorail driver was killed when two monorails collided. Then an actor performing in “Captain Jack’s Pirate Tutorial” was the victim of a freak accident when fight choreography went wrong. And most recently a stunt man in the “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” was killed rehearsing a stunt for the show.
When these things happen, the media swarms, Disney suits issue statements and try to keep things hush hush, families question Disney’s safety practices and as a result the company makes unnecessary safety precautions like not letting guests in the front of the monorail anymore. I have to say; I think it’s sad. Walt Disney World is the world’s largest single site employer (with around 60,000 cast members). It dwarfs Manhattan in size. Quite frankly, it is incredible that there have been so few deaths. All of that is a testament to just how good of a job Disney does at keeping its guests and cast members safe. While it’s true that the monorail accident is in some way a result of bean counters removing monorail pilots from the rear of the train (which are back by the way), overall Disney goes out of their way to make Disney World a safe environment.
A few years ago, Tigger was accused of punching a kid in the face. The tape proved he was innocent, but the amount of media attention the story received was ridiculous. Still, the media couldn’t resist the story of a bad thing happening in the most magical place on earth. Every day, something good happens to thousands of visitors at the Walt Disney World Resort. Over 50,000 “wishes” have been granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation at Walt Disney World. But there is one monorail accident in 38 years and suddenly we need to rethink our vacation plans? Walt Disney World is a happy place where families go and make incredible memories. In a resort with so many cast members, guests and different kinds of sophisticated machinery something is bound to go wrong. My thoughts and prayers are with the families that were affected by the tragedies this year at the parks and at the same time, I hope that these negative things don’t make those reading the stories in the paper lose sight of just how wonderful of a place Disney World was and remains to be.
Comments
Hear, Hear. I agree, Walt Disney World is a wonderful, magical place. Even though some bad things have happened, I wouldn't change my plans for that. We visited last year and rode in the front of the monorail on my Mom's birthday, it was very special for her and for us, it was my daughter's first trip there. I am sorry that they have stopped that perk, it was quite fun. But we still will ride the monorail when we go back.
It is still one of our favortie places to visit.
First, let me say that I'm as dismayed as anyone else by the "feeding frenzy mentality" of the media. And I agree that the Disney parks should be and generally are "happy places". But when people are dying, we can't afford to wear our Mickey-shaped rose-colored glasses. It dishonors the memories of those who died, and does a great disservice to those who may still be in harm's way, to cling so fervently to an idealized, unrealistic view of Disney.
I and many other current and former Cast Members can tell you first-hand that Disney has systematically dismantled procedures and systems that kept the mortality rate so low this long. I'm not talking about doing things that take safety measures to the level of absurdity, I'm talking about common-sense and best-practices measures that USED to be in place and no longer are.
It's tough to let go of "the happiest place on Earth" ideal, but if things don't change, it won't remain the "happiest place".
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